I got one of those ebay air intake and filter kits for like $30. I put it on, just for the time being, I just bought the car and have to put some money aside for my cai, but my question is about the filter, do you think its probably pretty shitty, should I leave it or go get a dif filter? Thanks

I wouldn't spend any money on a new filter. Changing the air filter on a CAI is going to do very very little to up the hp. Use the same amount of money to get clear side markers or something :)

I noticed that the K&N build quality is much better than a cheapo airfilter. I needed a replacement filter for my AEM CAI and my local motorsport hole-in-the-wall import peformance retailer was charging 30 bucks for a cheap filter and twice as much for the K&N version (and you can tell the diff. between the quality). I wouldn't worry about the HP diff. but I would worry about the cheap one falling apart faster.

what's the difference in build quality?? Both filters can be cleaned with the k & n cleaner kit, so I figure both have to be made with similar materials. I'm pretty sure with the AEM you're paying for the name.

Like you said you are saving for a cold air intake, I sure wouldn't waste my money on a new filter for the cheap intake, it's just going to postpone the purchase of your CAI.

Una salus victus.
He will triumph, who knows when to fight, and when not to fight. - Sun Tzu

Michael J. Kulaga
e-mail: Michael_97RS@2gntDSM.zzn.com aol IM: MJKulga
http://highlander.dsmpower.com/

All motor in the making.

Injen CAI, 55mm TB, P&P Intake Manifold, Hooker Header, GS-T Muffler, AFX UDP, S-AFC, 8.5mm Magnecor Wires, Crane Fireball HI-6DI2, SS Clutch Line, NRG Susp. Motor Mount Ins., FU/RU/RL STBs, TSW Blade 17x7.5, Bridgestone Potenza RE730, Front KVR Cross-Drilled Rotors & Carbon Fiber Pads

To Be Installed: P&P Milled Head, Rear Disc Brakes, Rear KVR Cross Drilled Rotors & Carbon Fiber Kevlar Pads, SS Brake Lines

Those damn ebay short rams are no good. I bought one for $30 and it made my car run like crap. The motor stuttered between 1,000 and 1,500 lost alot of bottom end and Just ran crappy. also when i put on the ebay intake i didn't have a breather filter so oil would leak from the valve cover to the intake and into my throttle body. I put on the aem CAI and a breather filter and Oh man what a difference! much better torque/ horepower ran smooth and very much worth the $$ I would run a stock air box over an ebay intake anyday. if you keep the ebay intake on get a breather filter and clean out your throttle body really good.


97 Eclipse GS
Aem CAI, Obx 2.5" Stainless Cat back, Tomm's coilovers, Blown stock struts :-) , Black housing projectors, Blitz Body kit, Dark blue metallic paint, Alpine cva-1005 head unit (6.5" indash monitor), Alpine type-R 6.5" component set, boston acoustics 5X7" in the rear, 2 alpine type-r 12"s Pheonix gold sub amp and eclipse 4 channel.

Autozone has APC filters for 19.99, I havent had any probs no ripping no tearing and they hold up pretty good in this Louisiana humidity, as far as Im concerned its a budget K&N.
Its a good temp use one until I do my turbo

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96 Black GS
Fog Light Mod*Custom Built Foxx 2K2 Short Air Intake* Foxx 2k2 Short Shifter*Indy Sequential Shifter Knob*Grabber Green/Orange Brake Caliper Color Mod*(:waryAryton Sienna R*I*P Orange/Green Engine Color Scheme) Maxspeed Catback System*18" Konig Black Opal Verdicts wrapped in Toyo Proxes FZ4's*Front Strut Tower Bar*Indiglo Gauges*MT4 Indiglo Pedals*In the Mail-*Eibach Sportline Springs*$$$ Coming NER Stage 1D Turbo Kit and Gauges on order